Horn construction



:Jan- 1932- H.,HUEBER ET AL 1,841,535

HORN CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 glwuemtom,

Jan. 19, 1932. HUEBER ETAL 1,841,535

HORN CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 40 gnoentom,

Henry Ember, v Erwin CJCorion,

atkoxmq Patented Jan. 19, 1932 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRYHUEIBER, F BUFFALO, EBWTN C. HORTON, OF HAMBURG, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TOTBIGO PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK HORN CONSTRUCTIONApplication filed November 17, 1930. Serial m. 496,809.

This invention relates to horns for giving warning notes or signals andparticularly to such horns as are adapted for use on automobiles, boats01' other vehicles.

The invention has particular reference to .a signal horn in which acolumn of air is set into sound producing oscillation by a vibratingvalve, and relates specifically to the design and structuralrelationships of various parts comprising the sound generating and soundamplifying devicw. V

The horn includes a casing formed of a plurality of die castings, whichmay be rap; idly roduced at low cost, and which form a housing for thesound generatingmechanism and also a conduit or trumpet passage fordirecting and amplifying the sound waves that are produced the sound boxor housing by the sound generating mechanism.

The trumpet passage, defined by a air of the casing forming die castins, iso spiral form, eifecting compactness 0 the structure. Theconvolutions of the passage are spaced blyr single comparatively thinwalls and t ough which sound waves may be conducted for modifying andaltering the original sound waves generated in the sound box be-. forethey are emitted from the mouth of the trumpet.

so These and other objects andadvantages will become apparent from thefollowing description of typical devices embodying the principles of theinvention, reference being a made to the accompanying drawings,

wherein I Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a horn constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

normal to that of Fig. 2 and throughthe sound generatin portion of thedevice; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a die-cast insert portion of thesound amplifying means;

Fig. 5 is a substantially vertical sectionalview taken through amodified-horn; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. cAs shown in Fig. 1, the device consists of Fig. 3 is a vetricalcross-section in'a plane.

a casing 10 which houses the sound producing mechanism and comprises thetrumpet or sound-augmenting and projecting means.

The casing consists of a pair of complemental die-castings 11 and 12each having a continuous spiral trough 13 of substantially semi-circularcross-section, the diameters or widths of the spiral troughs increasingfrom the centers outwardly, and each convolution thereof being spacedfrom the adjacent convolution by a metal wall 14, also of spiral shapeand of substantially uniform width. The members 11 and 12 are eachextended and enlarged as indicated at 15 adjacent the outer trough endsand are adapted to be secured in such complemental relationship that thespiral troughs 13 merge to form a spiral passageway 15 of substantiallycircular crosssection, the diameter thereof increasing from the centerof the castings outwardly. The

passages terminate in a substantially bellshaped end and consisting ofcomplemental extensions 16 formed on each die-casting.

The inner face 17 of the casting 11 is prefstantially'flatouter face 18and the increasing depth-of the .convolute troughs 13. The

-erably dished in orderto provide for a sub- 15 central portion of thecasting 12 is cupped v spiral passage 15, merging in a curveof com.-

paratively large radius into the passage 23 which is substantiallynormal to the plane of the outer face 18 of the casting 11.

A portion 'of the block 21 about the passage 23 is extended tov providean annular seat 25 V for a valve 26. The latter has ahub 27 with aperipheral flange 28 thereabout, the flange disposed radially thereof tothe casing or housing portion 19. A spider 31 having an annular seat 32for bear against medial portions of the springs 29 1s adjustably rebeingconnected by coiled tension springs 29 V tained thereagainst by a setscrew 33 and locking nut 34, the set screw having a conical tip seatingin the central portion of the spider. A cap 35 is removably fitted overthe set screw and nut, preferably being threaded to the housing as shownin'Fig. 2.

An exhaust or suction line 36 extending to the intake manifold of thevehicle engine or other source of less-than-atmospheric pressure isattached at 37 to the casing portion 19, communicating with the interiorthereof through a port or passage 38. A suitable valve (not shown) ispreferably provided in the suction line to control the flow of fluidtherethrough for efiecting operation of the horn. Air being drawnthrough the tube 36 will produce a condition'of less-than-atmosphericpressure in the interior of the casing 19, causing air under atmosphericpressure in the trumpet passage 15, 23 to force the valve 26 away fromits seat 25 against the resistance of the springs 29. hen a condition ofatmospheric pressure again maintains within the chamber 19, due topassage of a. stream of air through the trumpet passage around the valve26, the tension springs will return the valve to its seat. The soundwaves created by such oscillatory movements of the valve or soundgenerating member toward and away from its seat, which recur at highlyfrequent intervals, or by the pulses or vibrations set up in the airstream, or by both combined, are modified, amplified and directed by thetrumpet passage.

The pitch or period of oscillation of the sound generating valve may bevaried by adjusting the set screw 33, causing the spider 31, 32 whichpresses against the springs 29 to induce a difierent degree of tensiontherein.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the intermediateblock 21 is omitted. The horn casing comprises die cast sections 40 and41 each having a spiral trough 42 of semi-circular cross-section whichincreases in radius from the center or inner convolution outward. Thesesections, held together by screws 43 complement each other to form acontinuous convolute passage 44 terminating at the horn interior in areduced neck 45 which is adapted to be alternately opened and closed bya sound generating valve 46. The valve is contained in a chamber 47defined by the casing section 42, including an internally threadedtubular extension 48 thereon, and a cup-shaped closure 49, threaded intothe tubular extension 48. The latter carries radial springs 51 forsupporting the valve, an adjustable set screw 52, and a fitting 53 forattaching the exhaust line 54. A spider 55 is adjustably pressed againstthe springs 51 by the set screw 52.

A bell 56, preferably a single piece of metal stamped or spun toshape ispressed into an annular recess 57 formed in the outer end of the spiralpassage 44. The lower screw 43 preferably impinges the telescopedportion of the bell to positively retain it in the recess 57.

The operation of this horn is similiar to that of Figs. 1 to 4inclusive, the opening and closing movements of the valve, effected bysuction maintaining in the line 54, inducing sound waves in theamplifying trumpet passage 44, 56. The pitch of the signal note may bevaried by adjustment of the set screw 52, and the valve 46 may beadjusted relative to its seat by turning the threaded closure 49 bywhich the springs 51 are carried. The closure-may also be turned to varythe tension in the springs 51 and may be locked in adjusted position bya set screw 58, threaded into the tubular casing portion 48.

It will now be understood that the present invention provides a compacthorn structure, the long efiective trumpet passage being coiled into arelatively small spiral and formed of two disc-like die-castings whichmay be economically and rapidly produced. The'sound gathering mechanism,similar to that disclosed in 'co-pending application Serial No. 486,288,filed Oct. 3, 1930, may, as shown in Fig. 6, be provided with aplurality of adjustments for efiecting changes in the tension of thevalve actuating springs.

The tone' quality of the device is attribut-' able partially to theshape of the trumpet passage and partially to the manner of for mationof the passage, the passage convolutions being spaced by single andcomparatively thin walls which may transmit sound waves or vibrations tomodify the characteristics of the resultingsound waves.

It will be further understood that the specific devices described may,be modified in various details, and it is intended that the inventionshould be commensurate with the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A horn casing, comprising a pair of com plementary sections, each ofsaid sections having a spiral trough therein increasing in depth fromone to the other end of the spiral, said spiral troughs together forminga spiral trumpet passage of cross section increasing from one to theother end thereof, one of said sections having a chamber formedintegrally therewith for containing sound generating mechanism, and apassage'opening between said chamber and the smaller end of said spiralpassage. 7

2. A horn comprising a casing having a spiral trumpet passage and asound chamber, a connecting passage extending between the innerconvolution of said spiral passage and said sound box, said connectingpassage extending in a plane substantially normal to said spiral, asound generating element in said chamber adapted to alternately seat andunseat over said passage for inducing sound.

waves in said passages.

' 7. A horn comprising a casing section hav 3. A horn comprising a pairof complementary casing sections, the first of said casings having aspiral trough extending from the center thereof outwardly, the second ofsaid sections having an opposed spiral trough complementing the outerconvolutions of said first troughto form an outer spiral passage, saidsound-section having a recessed chamber for receiving sound generatingmechanism including fa movable valve, a filler section disposed betwecnsaid first and second sections and substantially closing said recessedchamber, said filler section having a spiral trough complementing theinner convolutions of said first section to form an inner spiral passagecomn1unicating,with said outer spiral passage, said filler sectionhavinga connecting passage merging into the inner end of said inner spiralpassage and opening into said chamber, and said connecting passage beingadapted to be alternately covered and uncovered by said movable valve.

4. A horn comprising a pair of complementary casing sections, the firstthereof having a spiral trough extending from the center outwardly, thesecond thereof having a complementary spiral trough extending from amedial portion of said first-mentioned spiral outwardly, a recessedchamber .formed in said second section, and a filler sectionsubstantially closing said chamber and disposed between said first andsecond sections, said filler section having a spiral trough terminatingcentrally thereof in a connecting passage opening into said chamber, thetrough of said first section cooperating with the troughs of said secondsection and said filler section to form a continuous spiral passage fromsaid connecting passage outwardly.

' 5. A horn comprising a pair of casing sections, each having a spiraltrough extending from the center thereof outwardly, said troughscomplementing each other to form a spiral passage of increasing crosssection from the center outwardly, one of said sections having a chamberforming an extension and a passage opening into said chamber and merginginto the inner end of said spiral passage.

6. A horn including a pair of easing sections each having a troughformed therein,] said troughs complementing each other to,

form a trumpet passage, said sections beingv secured together bythreaded fasteners extending therethrough, and a bell telescoped. intoone end of said passage and removably,

her being adapted to alternately cover and uncover said passage, andsaid closure being efiective upon turning thereof to support said membervarying distances from said passage and to vary the tension of saidsprings.

8. A suction operated horn comprising a casing having a tubular portionthreaded internally thereof, and a passage substantiallycoaxially ofsaid tubular. portion, a closure threaded into said tubular portion, asound generating member for alternately covering and uncovering saidpassage, .radial springs extending between said closure and said soundgenerating member for supporting the latter, and an annular memberadjustable relative to said closure for hearing against and varying thetension of said radial springs, said closure being adjustable by turningrelative to said casing to vary the tension in said springs and to varythe normal spring pressure holding said sound generating member inposition covering said passage.

' HENRY HUEBER.

ERWIN C. HORTON.

retained therein by engagement with one of said threaded fasteners.

ing a sound chamber and passage opening outwardly therefrom, saidchamber being threaded internally thereof, and a closure threaded intosaid chamber, a sound genera-j ating member supported in said chamber bysprings attached to said closure, said mem-

